Improvement in riding-stirrups



.1. Emma.

Riding-Stirrups.

Pa tented Feb. 4

AM mow-ulna GRAPHIC on M x (ossomvsfs PRacEss) UNITE TENT rrrcri.

IMPROVEMENT iN RlDlNG-STiRRUPS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 135,547, dated February4, 1873.

To all whom it may concern: v

Be it known that I, ANDREW J. HERRING, of Mauch Chunk, in the county ofCarbon and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a .new and ImprovedSaddle-Stirrup and I do hereby declare the tollowing'tobe a full andexact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawing forming part of this specification, in which- Figure l is aperspective view of my improved stirrup with the hood removed; Fig. 2 isa vertical section taken in the line :0 :10, Fig. 3; and Fig. 3 is asimilar view taken in the line 3 y, Fig. 2.

Similar letters of reference in the accompanying drawing denote the sameparts.

My invention relates to that class of saddlestirrups which are composed.of wood bent into the requisite form to receive the feet of therider. Asusually constructed, a block of wood is bolted between the ends of thestirrup to hold them together and afford the necessary attachment forthe stirrup-strap. The whole strain upon the stirrup when in use is,therefore, sustained by its thin ends, and any unusual shock or jar isliable to break out the wood from the bolt-holes and tear the bolt fromits place. This breakage, of course, renders the stirrup worthless.

The first part of my invention has for its object to overcome thisdefect; and to this end consists in constructing the stirrup of onepiece of wood with half of the block upon each end, which halves, whenthe stirrup is bent into the proper form, bear against each other, andare held together by abolt passing through them. By this constructionthe top of the stirrup is practically made in one piece with the sides,and furnishes a solid bearing for the bolt. The latter, therefore,cannot be torn from its place under the most violent usage. Thesecondpart of my invention consists in connecting the stirrup-strap tothe stirrup by a spring frame, for the purpose of relieving the horseand rider from the effects of sudden shocks and jars, the frame beingconstructed to embrace the top piece of the, stirrup and hold the loopof the strap beneath the same so that the breaking of the springs shallnot destroy the connection of the parts. The invention consists,lastly,in arran gin gthe springs of the frame beneath the bolt and top piece ofthe stirrup, so that the operating parts of the attachment shall be heldcompactly and securely between the sides of the stirrup.

In theaccompanying drawing, A is the stirrup worked out of one piece ofwood with the half blocks B upon each end, which halves bear againsteach other when the stirrup is bent up, and are held in place by thetransverse bolt 0 and nut D. By this construction the top E of thestirrup is made solid with the sides, and cannot be broken out by anystrain or violence to which the bolt may be subjected. cured in place bythe bolt 0 passing through its upper corners. A washer, Gr, fits uponthe bolt outside the hood upon one side and the nut D upon the oppositeside, to prevent the hood from being torn off. By this means of securingthe hood in place the use of tacks and nails, which disfi gure andinjure the wood, is avoided.

If desired, the washer and nut may be ornamerited to impart a neat andfinished appearance to the attachment. H is the spring frame; consistingof a metal loop, I, whose ends are secured to opposite sides of a block,J, resting upon the top of the stirrup. The loop depends from this blockso as to embrace the top E, and extend downward between the sides of thestirrup. K are the springs supported in the loop so that their upperends shall enter sockets formed in the under side of the blocks B toreceive them, the tops of the sockets terminating at or near the underside of the bolt 0. The springs operate with expansive force and holdthe loop down with the block J resting snugly upon the top E. The lowerportion of the loop has its edges turned up slightly to afford means ibrthe attachment of a metal shield, L, and thereby form a narrow channelto receive theloop of the stirrup-strap M. The strap plays looselywithin this channel, but is prevented from dropping down within thestirrup by means of the shield L. r

If desired, one or more openings may be made in the bottom of the shieldto discharge any water or moisture which may accumulate in the bend ofthe channel.

When the stirrup is in use the pressure of F is the leather hood of thestirrup sepresents a neatand compact appearance.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is- 1. A Woodenstirrup constructed in one piece, with a block, B, upon each end, whichblocks, when the stirrup is bent up, bear against each other, and areheld together by a transverse bolt, substantially as described, for thepurpose specified.

2. The stirrup-strap connected to the stirrup by means of the springframe H, substan tially as described, for the purpose specified.

3. The spring frame consisting essentially of the metal loop I, block J,and the springs K, supported between the loop and the under side of theblocks B, substantially as described, for the purpose specified.

4:. In combination, with the spring frame,

the shield L, substantiallyas described, for

the purpose specified.

5. The spring frame arranged as described, to hold the loop of thestirrup-strap beneath the top and between the sides of the stirrup,substantially as described, for the purpose specified;

The above specification of my invention signed by me this 31st day ofDecember,1872.

ANDREXV J. HERRING.

Witnesses:

E. A. ELLSWOR'IH, MELVILLE CHURCH.

